Publish date: 14 March 2024
Healthcare sciences represents over 50 specialties in the NHS, which provide new technologies and diagnostics that directly benefit and improve patient care. Read about some of the staff at Mid Cheshire who are part of the healthcare science professions.
I have worked here at Leighton for 17 years, starting in the Estates Stores then moving into Medical Engineering as a Maintenance Assistant after about 18 months when a vacancy arose.
I was encouraged undertake my foundation degree and following that my BSc. My job role is the maintenance and repair of all medical equipment used within the Trust
I really enjoy the challenges of servicing and diagnosing faults in Medical Equipment.
A main part of my role focuses on visiting and reviewing in-patients with bacteraemia. I receive microbiology results from the Biomedical Scientists (BMSs) and interpret them along with the patient’s history and information from their medical teams to devise a treatment plan (supervised by a Consultant Microbiologist). I prepare results for and attend ward rounds daily including Critical Care with a Consultant Microbiologist. I resolve issues with laboratory samples from both the clinical staff sending the samples and the biomedical scientists processing them at the laboratory. I work closely with the IPCT and assist with outbreaks and other IPC concerns. I am also part of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Team and assist with audits and antimicrobial ward rounds. Currently I balance my job with time at Manchester University as I am in my 4th year of the HSST programme to train to be a Consultant Clinical Scientist.
My favourite part of the job is when the patient has no clear source of infection and I’m able to use specific knowledge of microbiology organisms to find the source of an infection and then build a precise treatment plan to target it. Makes all the years of continued studying worthwhile!
I perform cardiac diagnostic tests for example ECGs, ambulatory ECG monitors and ambulatory blood pressure monitors, on a wide range of different patients including outpatients adults and paediatrics and inpatients. I also assist in the training of students and new members of staff.
I find ECG interpretation really interesting and enjoy teaching this to students and new trainees.
I joined the trust over 2 years ago as part of the Echocardiography Training Programme (ETP) run by the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS). This is a full-time integrated training scheme which delivers academic and workplace training, leading to both a post-graduate certificate in Echocardiography and Level 2 BSE Accreditation in Transthoracic Echo.
My role involves providing technical expertise in the diagnostic test transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Day to day, I am responsible for performing TTE in accordance with BSE guidelines and department standards/protocols on a mixture of outpatients and in-patients. A comprehensive report is written for the referrer in every study.
I enjoy the variety of the job as no day is completely the same. What we see on an echo list varies significantly from patient to patient. My favourite part of the job however is the positive feeling I get from contributing to patients care and making a difference.
I joined the paediatric audiology team in November 2023. My role is to assist Audiologists, helping during hearing tests, to undertake routine hearing aid repairs and to provide administrative support by managing stock.
I really enjoy all parts of the role, but mostly being in the clinic supporting the child and family.
